Antimalarial and Erythrocyte Membrane Stability Properties of Globimetula braunii (Engle Van Tiegh) Growing on Cocoa in Plasmodium berghei-Infected Mice

• Main Authors: Olanlokun JO, Ekundayo MT, Ebenezer O, Koorbanally NA, Olorunsogo OO
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2021-09-01
• Series: Infection and Drug Resistance
• Subjects: globimetula braunii; erythrocytes; heme; hemozoin plasmodium berghei; resistant malaria
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/antimalarial-and-erythrocyte-membrane-stability-properties-of-globimet-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IDR

John Oludele Olanlokun,1 Mercy Toluwase Ekundayo,1 Oluwakemi Ebenezer,2 Neil Anthony Koorbanally,2 Olufunso Olabode Olorunsogo1 1Laboratories for Biomembrane Research and Biotechnology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, 4000, Nigeria; 2School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 4006, South AfricaCorrespondence: John Oludele OlanlokunDepartment of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Room NB 305, Ibadan, NigeriaEmail [e-mail]: Resistant malaria is a fatal disease. Globimetula braunii (African Mistletoe) is traditionally used for malarial treatment but this fact has not been scientifically reported.Methods: Plasmodium berghei (NK65)-infected male Swiss mice (20± 2 g) were treated orally and once daily with 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg BW of methanol extract and its respective hexane, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate fractions for 9 days. P-alaxin was used as control drug P. berghei (ANKA)-infected mice were then treated with the most potent fraction for 5 days. Parasitemia and parasite clearance were determined by microscopy, while hematological parameters, heme, hemozoin, and mouse erythrocyte membrane stabilisation were assayed. The phytochemicals in the most potent fraction were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.Results: Hexane fraction (HF)-treated mice (400 mg/kg BW) had the least mean parasite load (0.00 ± 0.00; 0.14 ± 0.05%) and highest clearance (100 ± 0.00; 75.50 ± 4.95%) compared with infected control (9.81 ± 0.09; 6.84 ± 0.09%) in susceptible and resistant models, respectively. Hexane fraction modulated hematological indices, minimised erythrocyte membrane damage in heat-induced (2.18 ± 0.94%) and hypotonic solution-induced (7.93 ± 0.93%) compared to artequin (5.05 ± 2.18; 6.38 ± 0.33%) and P-alaxin (67.45 ± 5.15; 56.78 ± 1.10%) in both models of membrane stabilisation, respectively. Hexane fraction (P< 0.01) increased heme and decreased hemozoin contents. Friedelan-3-one was identified as the most abundant triterpene.Conclusion: The results indicated that G. braunii has anti-plasmodial properties and minimally dis-stabilised erythrocyte membrane. The major findings in this study are that n-hexane fraction of G. braunii possess excellent and moderate antiplasmodial activity against susceptible and resistant P. berghei, respectively. This was reflected via decreased parasite load, improved hematological parameters, increased heme and decreased hemozoin contents. Friedelan-3-one, a major constituent of the n-hexane fraction, may be responsible for this activity.Keywords: Globimetula braunii, erythrocytes, heme, hemozoin, Plasmodium berghei, resistant malaria